Folding door construction



July 17, 1956 M. P. MADSEN FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 1. 1954 39 5 INVENTOR. ps P. Mnpssrv July 17, 1956 M. P.MADSEN FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1954 INV EN TOR. MAPS R MADSEIV XY'ZE/VFF July 17, 1956 M. P. MADSEN 2,754,901

FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 CONTINUEDON P is. 3

-iLL Q INVENTOR. "mas P MHDSEN July 17, 1956 M. P. MADSEN 2,754,901

FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

M9 08 F. MQP EN United States Patent FOLDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Mads P.Madsen, New York, N. Y. Application November 1, 1954, Serial No. 465,7878 Claims. (Cl. 160-84) This invention relates to folding doors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved foldingdoor which may be easily and readily rolled to an open, collapsedposition and as readily rolled to a closed position to close otf a roomor the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedfolding door construction including a plurality of separable, pivotallyconnected rigid elements which form the framework for the door and whichinsure the rigidity of the door when in a closed position but whichpermit the easy and ready moving of the same to a collapsed, openposition.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved folding door construction of the above type wherein the shellor covering is mounted upon the frame in a novel manner so as tocooperate therewith and to provide improved operating characteristics.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a folding doorbearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction,inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy touse and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof shown in an open position;

Figure 3a is an enlarged perspective view shown partly broken away ofthe upper portion of the door;

Figure 3b is an enlarged perspective view shown partly broken away ofthe lower portion of the door;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFigure 3a;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure3a;

Figure 6 is a perspective view shown along one of the frame elementsforming a part of the invention;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 7-7 ofFigure 3b;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the frame elements ina collapsed, open position;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the strap means for limiting theexpansion of the door;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upperportion of the door shell or covering;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 11-11 ofFigure 3a;

Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the clamp elementsforming a part of the invention;

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 1313 ofFigure 3a; and

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, 10 repretaken along thesents a wall or the like having a door frame or opening 11,substantially as illustrated.

In the practice of my invention, a track formed from a channel-shapedmember 12 of substantially U-shaped cross section is secured along itscentral portion to the top of the door frame 11 by means of wood screws13 or the like, the lower longitudinal edges of the member 12 beingintegrally formed with the inwardly extending flanges 14 (Figure 5).

A pair of rollers 15 pivotally connected to a yokeshaped member 16 arerotatably supported on the upper surface of the flanges 14, a dependingrod or link 17 being suitably secured at its upper end to the centralportion of the yoke-shaped member 16 and being formed at its lower endwith an eye or loop 18 (Figure 13).

As shown in Figure 3a, a plurality of such pairs of rollers 15,yoke-shaped members 16 and links 17 are supported on the flanges 14, theeyes 18 of the endmost links 17 supporting the channel-shaped members 19provided at their upper ends along their central portions with theopenings 20. The outer longitudinal edges of the members 19 areintegrally formed with the inwardly-extending flanges 21.

Laterally spaced bearing bracket members 23 are secured to the innerfaces of the channel-shaped members 19 below the openings 20, for apurpose which will hereinafter become clear. Similarly laterally spacedbearing members 22 (Figure 3b) are secured to the inner faces of thechannel-shaped members 19 near their lower ends.

The extreme displacement of the pairs of rollers relative to each otheris limited by a strap 24 having a plurality of longitudinally spacedgrommets 25 or the like which receive downwardly therethrough the links17. When the door is in the closed configuration of Figures 3a and 3b,the strap 24 will be relatively taut to limit their displacement whereaswhen the rollers are moved closer together, the straps will be collapsed(Figure 9).

The links 17 intermediate the endmost links extend downwardly within thehollow members 26 of substantially square cross section (Figure 14),being secured therewithin by means of rivets 27 or the like which passthrough the loops 18.

A plurality of rigid elements indicated generally at'28 (Figure 6) areprovided and include the elongated vertical portions 29 integrallyformed at opposite ends at right angles thereto with the horizontalportions 30 which terminate in the inwardly extending portions 31disposed substantially parallel to the portion 29.

As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, four such rigid members 28 are disposedintermediate each pair of rollers 15, with four of the uppermostinwardly extending portions 31 rotatably received within each of thehollow members 26 (Figure 14) intermediate the inner walls of the latterand the links 17. Aligned vertically with and spaced below each of thehollow members 26 is a corresponding hollow member 32 of square crosssection which receives upwardly therethrough four of the lower inwardlybent portions 31 in pivotal engagement, the upper ends of these lowerportions 31 being outwardly bent, as at 33, whereby to preventdisplacement of the portions downwardly through the members 32 (Figure3b).

Adjacent vertical portions 29 are pivotally connected at their upper andlower ends by means of the cylindrical clamps 34 (Figure 12), each ofthe clamps 34 being split and integrally formed at one end with a tongue35 which is received within a corresponding slot 36 formed in the otherend when the clamps are bent around the vertical portions 29.Intermediate clamps 34a (Figure 5) identical in construction areprovided intermediate the clamps 34.

As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the upper and lower vertical portions 31of the endmost members 28 are pivotally mounted within the bearingmembers 22, 23 with their ends being inwardly bent, as at 37, to limittheir longitudinal displacement through the bearing members.

A flexible covering or shell 3% of plastic, fabric or other suitablematerial is provided for the frame members 28, the upper and lower edgesthereof being inwardly bent and secured by stitching 39 for reinforcingand ornamental purposes.

Upper flexible rectangular supporting strips 49 of plastic, fabric orother suitable material are secured along their lower edges to the innerfaces of the coverings 33 by means of the stitching 41, the strips 49being disposed below the stitching 39 and adapted to extend upwardly andaround the horizontal portions 34 Similar supporting strips 42 securedin place by stitching 43 are provided at the lower ends of the coverings38 (Figure 3b) and for the same purpose as the portions 4%. The strips49, 42 are maintained in engagement with the horizontal portions 30 bymeans of the clamps 44 similar in construction to the clamps 34previously referred to (Figure 11).

The ends of the coverings 38 extend around the channel-shaped members 19(Figure 4) across the flanges 2i. and are bent inwardly therebetween, asat 45. A length of rubber hose 46 or the like is forced inwardly betweenthe adjacent edges of the flanges 21 to resiliently retain the ends 45therewithin, the covering 38 being secured across the outer faces of thechannel-shaped members 19 by means of glue 4-7 or the like.

Thus, when the door is closed (Figure l), the members 28 will bearranged relative to each other, as shown in Figure 7. When the door isrolled to the open position (Figure 2), the elements 28 will be disposedrelative to each other as shown in Figure 8, with the covering 38collapsing therebetween. This construction permits the easy and readyopening and closing of the door while at the same time insuringsufficient rigidity of the door when in a closed position. This isaccomplished by means of the pivotally mounted rigid members 28 and therollers 15.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding door comprising a plurality of separable rigid framemembers, overhead track means, a plurality of longitudinally spacedroller means adapted to ride said track means, first bearing meanssuspended from each of said roller means, adjacent upper vertical edgesof four of said separable rigid frame members being pivotally mountedwithin each of said first bearing means, means pivotally connecting theother adjacent vertical edges of said separable rigid frame members toeach other on opposite sides of said track means, second bearing meanspivotally connecting the adjacent lower vertical edges of said separablerigid frame members, said second bearing means being aligned verticallywith said first bearing means, third bearing means pivotally connectingtogether the upper and lower vertical edges of the endmost pairs of saidseparable rigid frame elements, and flexible cover means for said rigidframe members.

2. A folding door according to claim 1, each of said separable rigidframe members comprising an elongated, substantially vertical rod,horizontal rods at opposite ends of said vertical rod, said horizontalportions being aligned vertically with each other to provide asubstantially U- 6 shaped frame member, and inwardly extending portionsat the ends of said horizontal portions remote from said vertical rod,said first bearing means comprising a hollow member, a centrallydisposed link extending upwardly within said hollow member, and meansfor securing the lower end of said link within said hollow member, saidinwardly bent upper portions being received downwardly within saidhollow member intermediate the inner faces thereof and said link.

3. A folding door according to claim 2, said means securing the lowerend of said link within said hollow member comprising an eye integrallyformed at the lower end of said link and a transverse pin piercingopposite sides of said hollow member, said pin passing through said eye.

4. A folding door according to claim 2, said means pivotally connectingthe other adjacent edges of said rigid frame members together comprisinga plurality of vertically spaced sleeves surrounding said verticalportions.

5. A folding door according to claim 2, said second bearing meanscomprising a hollow member open at both ends, the lowermost of saidinwardly bent portions being received upwardly through said hollowmember in sets of four, the upper ends of said inwardly bent portionsbeing bent away from the center of said hollow member whereby to limitdownward displacement therethrough.

6. A folding door according to claim 1, said third bearing meanscomprising a pair of channel-shaped members of substantially U-shapedcross section, the central portions of said channel-shaped members attheir upper ends having openings receiving said eyes therethrough, andlaterally spaced bearing members secured to the inner faces of saidcentral portions below said openings, each of said laterally spacedbearing members rotatably mounting therewithin one of said upperinwardly bent portions of the endmost of said rigid frame members, andsecond laterally spaced bearing members on the inner faces of saidcentral portions at the lower ends thereof, each of said secondlaterally spaced bearing members rotatably mounting therewithin one ofsaid lower inwardly bent portions of the endmost of the said rigid framemembers.

7. A folding door according to claim 6, including inwardly extendingflanges at the outer edges of said channel-shaped members, said inwardlyextending flanges being freely spaced from each other, said cover meanscomprising a pair of flexible coverings adapted to extend across saidrigid frame members on the opposite longitudinal faces thereof, meansfor supporting said cover on the horizontal portions of said framemembers, the vertical ends of said covers extending around the sides ofsaid channel-shaped members and inwardly intermediate said inwardlyextending flanges, and a hollow cylindrical length of resilient materialpositioned intermediate said flanges in resilient engagement therewithwhereby to retain said ends therewithin.

8. A folding door according to claim 7, said means for securing saidcovers to the horizontal portions of said rigid frame members comprisinga plurality of longitudinally spaced rectangular strips of flexiblematerial secured along one longitudinal to the inner faces of saidcovers at the tops and bottoms thereof, said strips extending aroundsaid horizontal portions, and clips sleeving said horizontal portionswith said strips therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,373,146 Shearer Apr. 10, 1943 2,460,157 Watkins Jan. 25, 19492,512,736 Brenner et al. June 27, 1950

